Interior rearview mirror system with forwardly-viewing camera

ABSTRACT

A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a housing having a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. An interior rearview mirror head is pivotable about the housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint and is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the single pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view. The housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control that may receive an input and/or deliver an output via a bus communication, and that may at least partially control a braking system and/or a traction control system of the equipped vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/191,802, filed Jul. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,134,117,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/026,591,filed Feb. 14, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,994,471, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/467,660, filed May18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,888,629, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/197,660, filed Aug. 25, 2008, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,538,316, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/828,880, filed Jul. 26, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,159,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/699,271,filed Jan. 29, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,265,342, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/418,906, filed May5, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,262,406, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/913,748, filed Aug. 6, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,041,965, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/618,334, filed Jul. 11, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,356,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/997,579,filed Nov. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,565, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/433,467, filed Nov.4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,613, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/003,966, filed Jan. 7, 1998, byNiall R. Lynam, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,148, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vehicle interior mirror assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle interior rearviewmirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the housing adapted for containing a rain sensor andbiasing means in use biasing the rain sensor into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield, the housing containing at least onefurther electrical component.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the interior of the housing comprising at least onecompartment, the compartment having an opening at the front end of thehousing for facing in use towards the windshield and, the compartmentadapted for containing a rain sensor and for biasing the rain sensorforwardly through the first opening into contact with the interiorsurface of the windshield, and the housing also containing at least onefurther electrical component.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the interior of the housing comprising a compartment,the compartment having a first opening at the front end of the housingfor facing in use towards the windshield and the compartment having asecond opening on at least one side of the housing, the compartmentcontaining a rain sensor and means for biasing the rain sensor forwardlythrough the first opening into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield, and the compartment containing at least one furtherelectrical component accessible through the second opening

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle interiorrearview mirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end forreleasable attachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield,a rear end having connection means for mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, and an internal wall subdividing the interior of thehousing into first and second compartments, the first compartment havinga first opening at the front end of the housing for facing in usetowards the windshield and the second compartment having a secondopening on at least one side of the housing, the first compartmentcontaining a rain sensor and means for biasing the rain sensor forwardlythrough the first opening into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield, and the second compartment containing at least one furtherelectrical component accessible through the second opening.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for releasably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, a first opening at the front end of the housing forfacing in use towards the windshield, and a second opening on at leastone side of the housing for facing in use towards the top edge of thewindshield, the housing containing a rain sensor, means for biasing therain sensor forwardly through the first opening into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield, and at least one further electricalcomponent accessible through the second opening. The assembly furtherpreferably including a removable cover which mates with the housingaround the second opening and in use preferably extends along thewindshield towards the vehicle header, and electrical leads for the rainsensor and the further electrical component which in use are routedunder the cover to the header.

The invention provides the significant advantage that a vehiclemanufacturer is provided with the possibility of optionally including avariety of components with the rear view mirror assembly. Thispossibility is made available for example during the assembly lineprocess where the desired components to meet a particular specificationcan be included in the rear view mirror assembly. Furthermore, theremovable cover readily provides for the functional advantage of readilyincorporating a selected component whilst at the same time providing afunctionally attractive cover. The automaker is therefore provided withthe considerable advantage of the possibility of providing a pluralityof diverse options quickly and speedily during the assembly lineprocess.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle interior mirrorassembly according to the invention attached to the interior surface ofa windshield;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the mirror assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking into theopening 18;

FIG. 5 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking into theopening 20;

FIG. 6 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking fromunderneath;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wiring cover forming part of themirror assembly;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of vehicle interiormirror assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of yet a further embodiment of a vehicle intorear mirror assembly according to the invention.

In certain of the figures some components are omitted or shown in dashedoutline to reveal the underlying structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, a vehicle interior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a die cast metal housing 10 (or optionally may be formed froma plastic moulding such as engineering polymeric resin such as a fillednylon or the like) having a front end 12 and a rear end 14, the frontend 12 being releasably attached to the interior surface of the vehiclewindshield 22 in a manner to be described. The interior of the housing10 is subdivided by an internal wall 16 into first and secondcompartments 18, 20 respectively, the first compartment 18 having anopening 18 a at the front end of the housing 10 which in use, and asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, faces towards the windshield 22 and the secondcompartment having an opening 20 a on the side of the housing which inuse faces towards the vehicle header 24 at the top edge of thewindshield. The front end 12 of the housing 10 is releasably attached tothe windshield 22 using an annular mounting button, not shown, in themanner described in EP 0 928 723 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/003,966, entitled “Rain Sensor Mount for Use in a Vehicle” to Niall RLynam, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,148, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

As shown in the various figures of the Ser. No. 09/003,966 application,it is desirable that the rain sensor mounting member attached to thewindshield and the rearview mirror mounting button provided on the rainsensor module are generally aligned along a common axis when the rainsensor module is mounted to the vehicle in order to provide a mountingof a rearview mirror assembly to the rain sensor module that isgenerally coaxial with the mounting of the rain sensor module to thewindshield. Optionally, a ceramic black frit layer, as is commonly knownin the windshield fabrication art, can be used on the inner surface ofthe windshield to hide the attachment location of the rain sensormodule. However, the center portion of such a ceramic layer shouldinclude a central opening or at least provide efficient transmission forthe output of the light emitters and the rain sensor unit at the pointof contact of its detecting surface to the windshield or to an adhesivelayer. The rain sensor module assembly includes the rain sensor unit,which is positioned in the housing and projects through an opening orport provided on a windshield facing side of the housing and extendsthrough an inner hollow open central portion of the rain sensor mountingbutton to contact the inner surface of the windshield. The rain sensorunit preferably comprises a compact rain sensor unit available from ITTAutomotive Europe, GMBH of Frankfurt, Germany. The rain sensor unitincludes a detecting surface which projects through an opening providedin adhesive layer so that direct contact is achieved between the innersurface of the windshield and the detecting surface of the rain sensorunit, and also includes a light emitting source and a. light detectingsource along with associated electronic circuitry for generating anelectrical signal indicative of detection of moisture on the outersurface of the windshield. Light emitted by the emitter passes throughthe rain sensor detecting surface and is refracted at the outerwindshield surface, and re-enters the rain sensor at its detectingsurface to impinge the light detector of the rain sensor, whose outputis processed by electronic circuitry to detect the presence/absence ofmoisture on the windshield. The circuitry (in whole or in part) can becontained in the rain sensor and/or within the housing of the module.Optionally, the electronic circuitry can be located/share componentswith/receive input from or deliver output electrical accessories in thevehicle, such as a CAN bus, electronically equipped mirrors such aslighted mirror and automatic dimming electrochromic mirrors, overheadconsoles, and similar electrically functioning vehicle components.Electrical connectors can be accommodated at the rain sensor module,such as at or on its housing. The rain sensor can be separatelyremovable from the module for service, or can be an integral part of themodule so that a unitary module is provided by a supplier to theautomaker for mating with a windshield mounting member as the vehiclepasses along the vehicle assembly line (or at a local ready-to-installwindshield supply plant), and thereafter for attachment thereto of arearview mirror assembly. The electrical signal output by the rainsensor can be used to automatically operate the wiper system for thewindshield and/or the backlite, or operate other vehicular functionssuch as close a sunroof in the event of rain or change the brakingand/or traction characteristics of the vehicle braking and/or tractioncontrol systems.

Optionally, and as described in the Ser. No. 09/003,966 application, themount includes an annular or like member having a central opening and isadapted to mount the housing to the inner surface of the windshield. Theport of the housing is aligned with the central opening of the annularmember so that the rain sensor can extend through the port and throughthe central opening and contact the inner windshield surface fordetecting moisture on an outer surface of the vehicle windshield. Thehousing is preferably releasably secured to the annular member so thatthe rain sensor can be serviced or replaced. In addition, at least thesecond side of the housing substantially covers and conceals the annularmember. The rain sensor mount includes a housing having a cover, whichcovers an access opening in the housing, a means for mounting a rearviewmirror assembly to the housing, and a rain sensor, which is positionedin the housing and includes a detecting surface. Furthermore, a biasingmember is interposed between a portion of the housing and the rainsensor for urging the detecting surface of the rain sensor to opticalcouple to the windshield of the vehicle for detecting moisture on anouter surface of the windshield.

Optionally, and as described in the Ser. No. 09/003,966 application, thehousing of the rain sensor module assembly is preferably releasably orremovably mounted or attached to the rain sensor mounting button byattachment to a solid portion of the rain sensor mounting button, forexample by mechanical means such as by snap-on or twist-on attachmentor, alternatively, by a releasable adhesive layer. The rain sensormounting button may comprise of a variety of shapes including square,rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular and the like, with a centralopening through which the rain sensor unit extends to position thedetecting surface into contact with either the inner surface of thewindshield or the outer surface of the adhesive layer. Preferably, theouter rim of the rain sensor mounting button has a smooth edge radiusfor safety purposes, for example an edge radius of greater than or equalto two millimeters. Also, the attachment of the rain sensor module tothe rain sensor mounting button is preferably a breakaway mount, whichmeets government and automaker safety requirements upon impact during anaccident. The mounting member attached to the vehicle windshield such asthe rain sensor mounting button can have a wide variety of shapes andforms. It is desirable that there be an adequate contact area with thewindshield surface to assure long term integrity of the joint theretounder the loading conditions experienced during lifetime use in thevehicle. The weight of the rearview mirror assembly attached to themirror mounting button of the rain sensor module can vary from about 100grams to about 500 grams, or even higher dependent on the featurecontent of the mirror assembly. The rain sensor module itself ispreferably fabricated of lightweight materials, and preferably weighsless than about 100 grams, more preferably less than about 50 grams, andmost preferably less that about 25 grams. The mounting member may have acontiguous perimetal portion encompassing a central opening (such as anannulus with a central hole transverse therethrough so that a portion ofthe inner surface of the windshield is exposed thereat), or the mountingmember can be non-contiguous (for example, two spaced apart railsattached to the windshield encompassing an opening therebetween wherethe detecting surface of the rain sensor can contact the windshield, orthe mounting member can be a single rail with an adjacent portion of theinner surface of the windshield serving as the opening for contacting ofthe rain sensor to the windshield). Also, the rain sensor module can bereceived on the mounting member such that its engagement on the supportattached to the windshield causes the detecting surface of the rainsensor to be urged forward towards, and to contact, the windshield.

The module itself, in cooperation with its mounting member on thewindshield, serves at least partially as a biasing member.

Optionally, and as described in the Ser. No. 09/003,966 application, therain sensor module assembly is mounted to the inner surface of thewindshield by a rain sensor mounting button. The rain sensor mountingbutton is preferably adhered to the inner surface of the windshield by alayer of adhesive such as an epoxy, a polyvinyl butyral, a urethane, ora silicone adhesive material or the like. The rain sensor mountingbutton may be circular in shape having a solid annular outer portion andan inner hollow open central portion. The solid portion of the rainsensor mounting button may comprise a polymer material, such as anengineering resin, a nylon or an ABS material, or can be a metalfabrication such as zinc casting or a sintered steel pressing orequivalent metal material such as steel, titanium, nickel, aluminum andtheir alloys, or the like.

Optionally, and as described in the Ser. No. 09/003,966 application, afirst end of the housing is preferably adapted to rotate or twist ontothe rain sensor mounting button and is, preferably, mounted to the rainsensor mounting button in a break-away mounting so that the housing andthe interior mirror assembly will detach from the rain sensor mountingbutton when any one of the housing and the mirror assembly are impacted.The mirror mounting button is mounted to a second end of housing or maybe integrally molded therewith.

The compartment 18 contains a rain sensor 26, preferably a compact rainsensor module available from ITT Automotive Europe GmbH of Frankfurt,Germany. The compartment 18 preferably also contains an arcuate steelspring finger 28 which is secured to the base of the compartment 18behind the rain sensor 26 and preferably serves to bias the rain sensor26 through the aperture in the mounting button and the opening 18 a intooptical contact with the windshield 22. Most preferably, rain sensor 26is a module which has a cross section diameter of at least 25millimeters (mm), more preferably at least 30 mm, but with a maximumdiameter ≦50 mm, more preferably ≦40 mm, and most preferably ≦35 mm.

The compartment 20 contains at least one further electrical componentwhich is accessible through the opening 20 a. In the present embodimentthe component is a printed circuit board 30 bearing a compass sensorsuch as a flux gate, magnetoinductive, magnetoresistive ormagnetocapacitive sensor.

At its rear end 14 the housing 10 has an integral ball 32 for releasablyand adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unit 34 to the housing 10generally in conventional manner. The mirror unit 34 comprises a mirrorhousing 36 containing a mirror 38 which is preferably an electro-opticmirror comprising front and rear plates separated by a space whichcontains an electro-optic medium such as an electrochromic mediumallowing variation in the amount of light transmitted through the mediumby varying the strength of an electric field applied across the medium.Alternatively a prismatic mirror element can be used. Such mirrors arewell known in the art. The ball 32 constitutes one part of a ball andsocket joint, the socket 36 being carried by the mirror housing 36. Themirror housing is adjustable about the ball and socket joint.Advantageously, the housing 10 is fixedly attached to the windshieldwhen mounted thereto. Thus, adjustment of the mirror housing to set thefield of rearward view of the mirror reflective element therein does noteffect the position/orientation of rain sensor and any other accessoryhoused in fixedly-attached housing 10. This is particularly advantageouswhen the electrical accessory in housing 10 comprises a compass sensorsuch as a magneto-resistive sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, amagneto-capacitive sensor or a flux-gate sensor. By having the housing10 be fixedly attached, and by having it accommodate at least twoelectrical accessories (at least one of which preferably comprises arain sensor that is mounted in the housing 10 so as to view through andpreferably contact the windshield inner surface, and with the rainsensor attached to the windshield generally coaxial with the mirror unitthat is adjustable about housing 10), a compact overall interior mirrorsystem is provided comprising a housing accommodating a plurality ofelectrical accessories, the housing fixedly and detachably mounted to areceiving structure on the inner surface (typically a glass surface) ofthe vehicle windshield and with a mirror unit comprising a mirrorsupport arm and a mirror housing including a reflector element, themirror support arm/mirror housing being adjustable about the fixedhousing (and optionally detachable therefrom). In this manner, thehousing 10 presents a minimal footprint when viewed from outside thevehicle through the vehicle windshield.

The assembly further includes a removable cover 40 which mates with thehousing 10 around the opening 20 a and extends along the windshield tothe vehicle header 24. The cover 40, which is longitudinally symmetric,is moulded from a resilient, polymeric or plastics material andcomprises a pair of opposite, substantially coplanar, longitudinal sideedges 42, FIG. 7, which diverge from a relatively narrow rear end 44 ofthe cover 40 to a relative wide flared front end 46. The flared frontend 46 of the cover is open, and there is also a small opening 48 at thenarrow rear end 44. The cover 40 has an internal strengthening wall 50whose free edge 52 is recessed below the level of the edges 42. At itsflared front end the cover 40 has a pair of forward projections 54, andthe inside surface of the cover has a pair of raised ridges 56 (only oneis seen. in FIG. 7) each extending along a respective side of the coveradjacent to the front end 46.

The exterior surface of the housing 10 has a corresponding pair ofelongated grooves or depressions 58 along each side of the opening 20 a,the exterior width of the housing across the opening 20 a beingsubstantially the same as the interior width of the cover 40 across thegrooves 58.

The cover 40 is fitted to the housing 10 by first inserting theprojections 54 into a recess 60, FIGS. 2 and 5, above the opening 20 aand then rotating the cover towards the windshield until the ribs 56snap-engage the grooves 58 (the cover 40 is sufficiently resilient topermit this) and the edges 42 of the cover come to lie flat against theinterior surface of the windshield 22, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thecover 40 may be removed by pulling the narrow end 44 away from thewindshield until the ribs 56 disengage the grooves 58 and thenwithdrawing the projection 54 from the recess 60.

The cover 40 serves a dual purpose. First, it protects the compartment20 a and hence the component 30 against the ingress of dust and othercontaminants, yet it is easily removed to allow the component 30 to beserviced or replaced, if necessary after removing the mirror unit 34.Secondly, it provides a conduit for electrical leads 62, 64 and 66respectively from the rain sensor 26, component 30 and (if fitted) theelectro-optic or other electrically operated mirror 38.

As seen in FIG. 1, these leads are routed under the cover 40 and throughthe opening 48 at the rear end 44 of the cover into the vehicle header24 where they are connected into the vehicle electrical system.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the ball joint 32 includes a passageway or aconduit through which can pass the electrical leads connecting to acomponent such as a eletrochromic mirror element 38 or compass displayin the mirror head 34. In particular, there is shown a lead 68 connectedto a compass display 70 which displays through the mirror element.Alternatively, the display 70 can be located at other positions in theinterior rear view mirror assembly, such as in a chin portion or in aneyebrow portion.

Optionally, the removable cover includes at least one opening 100 orport through which a pointed object such as the tip of a ball point penor a needle or the like can be inserted to activate switches on a PCBlocated in one of the compartments. Thus, for example, the zone and/orthe calibration of a compass PCB can be adjusted without the necessityto remove the removable cover.

Also, a camera may be located on the assembly for example on thehousing, or mirror unit or cover and arranged to look either forwardlyor rearwardly in terms of the direction of motion of the vehicle, or inanother desired direction. In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown schematicviews of other embodiments of the invention. Thus, in FIG. 8 there isshown the housing 10 containing a rain sensor 26 and another electricalcomponent for example a printed circuit board of a compass sensor 30,with the housing attached to the vehicle windshield 22. The mirror unit34 is adjustably attached to the housing 10 by a double ball adjustablemirror support arm 101.

In FIG. 9, the mirror support arm 101 is attached to a mirror assemblymount 102. The housing 10 also comprises a mirror assembly mount button103 which may be fixed to the housing 10 or integrally formed therewith.The mount 102 is detachably attached to the mirror assembly mount button103.

Although the component 30 has been described as a compass sensor PCB, itcan be any of a number of sensors or circuits which can be made smallenough to fit in the compartment 20. Preferably, component 30 isprovided as a unitary module that is received within compartment 20.Most preferably, component 30 is electrically connected with theelectric/electronic wiring provided to the rear view mirror assembly.Thus, an electronic accessory can be provided as a module, can beinserted and received in the rear view mirror assembly, and can makeelectrical connection (such as by a plug and socket to the rear viewmirror assembly). This facilitates and enables the manufacture andsupply of the rear view mirror assembly, by a mirror assemblymanufacturer, to a vehicle assembly line, and the separate manufactureand supply of the electrical/electronic module to that vehicle assemblyline, with the automaker conveniently inserting the electric/electronicmodule into the compartment of the rear view mirror assembly when therear view mirror assembly is being mounted on a vehicle passing down avehicle assembly line.

For example, the compartment 20 may contain a sensor or sensors forvehicle altitude and/or incline, seat occupancy or air bag activationenable/disable, or (if a viewing aperture is made in the housing 10)photosensors for headlamp intensity/daylight intensity measurement.Alternatively, the compartment 20 may contain a transmitter and/orreceiver, along with any associated sensors, for geographic positioningsatellite (GPS) systems, pagers, cellular phone systems, ONSTAR™wireless communication, systems, vehicle speed governors, securitysystems, tire monitoring systems, remote fueling systems where vehiclefueling and/or payment/charging for fuel is remotely achieved, remotekeyless entry systems, garage and/or security door opener systems,INTERNET interfaces, vehicle tracking systems, remote car door unlocksystems, e-mail systems, toll booth interactions systems, highwayinformation systems, traffic warning systems, home access systems,garage door openers and the like. Of course, any of the above may bemounted under the cover 40, in addition to the component 30 in thecompartment 20.

Where the component 30 is a transmitter or receiver, or where a furthercomponent mounted under the cover 40 is a transmitter or receiver, thecover 40 may include an associated antenna. The antenna may mounted as aseparate item under the cover 40, or the cover itself may serve as theantenna, being either coated with a layer of conductive material ormoulded from a conductive plastics material.

Also, a photosensor may be included in a compartment of the housing,preferably a skyward facing photosensor that views skyward through thevehicle windshield for the purpose of providing automatic headlampactivation/deactivation at dusk/dawn. Also, the housing may include asingle microphone or a plurality of microphones for detecting vocalinputs from vehicle occupants for the purpose of cellular phone wirelesscommunication.

Most preferably such microphones provide input to an audio system thattransmits and communicates wirelessly with a remote transceiver,preferably in voice recognition mode. Such systems are described incommonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/382,720, filedAug. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,003, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

In this regard it may be desirable to use audio processing techniquessuch as digital sound processing to ensure that vocal inputs to thevehicular audio system are clearly distinguished from cabin ambientnoise such as from wind noise, HVAC, and the like.

Preferably the housing includes an analog to digital converter and or adigital analog converter for the purpose of converting the analog outputof the microphone to a digital signal for input to a digital soundprocessor and for conversion of the digital output of a digital soundprocessor to an analog signal for wireless transmission to a remotetransceiver.

The housing may include a variety of information displays such as a PSIR(Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint) display, an SIR (Side-AirbagInflatable Restraint), compass/temperature display, a tire pressurestatus display or other desirable displays, such as those described incommonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/244,726, filedFeb. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,613, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

For example, the interior rearview mirror assembly may include a displayof the speed limit applicable to the location where the vehicle istravelling. Conventionally, speed limits are posted as a fixed limit(for example, 45 MPH) that is read by the vehicle driver upon passing asign. As an improvement to this, an information display (preferably analphanumerical display and more preferably, a reconfigurable display)can be provided within the vehicle cabin, readable by the driver, thatdisplays the speed limit at whatever location on the road/highway thevehicle actually is at any moment. For example, existing speed limitsigns could be enhanced to include a transmitter that broadcasts a localspeed limit signal, such signal being received by an in-vehicle receiverand displayed to the driver. The speed limit signal can be transmittedby a variety of wireless transmission methods, such as radiotransmission, and such systems can benefit from wireless transmissionprotocols and standards, such as the BLUETOOTH low-cost, low-power radiobased cable replacement or wireless link based on short-rangeradio-based technology. Preferably, the in-vehicle receiver is locatedat and/or the display of local speed limit is displayed at the interiormirror assembly (for example, a speed limit display can be located in achin or eyebrow portion of the mirror case, such as in the mirrorreflector itself, such as in the cover 40, or such as in a pod attachedto the interior mirror assembly). More preferably, the actual speed ofthe vehicle can be displayed simultaneously with and beside the localspeed limit in-vehicle display and/or the difference or excess theretocan be displayed. Optionally, the wireless-based speed limittransmission system can actually control the speed at which a subjectvehicle travels in a certain location (such as by controlling an enginegovernor or the like). Thus, a school zone speed limit can be enforcedby transmission of a speed-limiting signal into the vehicle. Likewise,different speed limits for the same stretch of highway can be set fordifferent classes of vehicles. The system may also require driveridentification and then set individual speed limits for individualdrivers reflecting their skill level, age, driving record and the like.Moreover, a global positioning system (GPS) can be used to locate aspecific vehicle, calculate its velocity on the highway, verify what theallowed speed limit is at that specific moment on that specific stretchof highway, transmit that specific speed limit to the vehicle fordisplay (preferably at the interior rearview mirror that the driverconstantly looks at as part of the driving task) and optionally alertthe driver or retard the driver's ability to exceed the speed limit asdeemed appropriate. A short-range, local communication system such asenvisaged in the BLUETOOTH protocol finds broad utility in vehicularapplications, and particularly where information is to be displayed atthe interior mirror assembly, or where a microphone or user-interface(such as buttons to connect/interact with a remote wireless receiver) isto be located at the interior (or exterior) rearview mirror assembly.For example, a train approaching a railway crossing may transmit awireless signal such as a radio signal (using the BLUETOOTH protocol oranother protocol) and that signal may be received by and/or displayed atthe interior rearview mirror assembly (or the exterior sideview mirrorassembly). Also, the interior rearview mirror and/or the exterior sideview mirrors can function as transceivers/display locations/interfacelocations for intelligent vehicle highway systems, using protocols suchas the BLUETOOTH protocol. Protocols such as BLUETOOTH, as known in thetelecommunications art, can facilitate voice/data, voice over data,digital and analogue communication and vehicle/external wirelessconnectivity, preferably using the interior and/or exterior mirrorassemblies as transceiver/display/user-interaction sites. Electronicaccessories to achieve the above can be accommodated in housing 10,and/or elsewhere in the interior mirror assembly (such as in the mirrorhousing). Examples of such electronic accessories include in-vehiclecomputers, personal organizers/palm computers such as the Palm Pilot™personal display accessory (PDA), cellular phones and pagers, remotetransaction interfaces/systems such as described in commonly assigned,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/057,428, filed Apr. 8, 1998, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,158,655, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference herein, automatic toll booth payment systems, GPS systems,e-mail receivers/displays, a videophone, vehicle security systems,digital radio station transmission to the vehicle by wirelesscommunication as an alternate to having an in-vehicle dedicatedconventional radio receiver, traffic/weather broadcast to the vehicle,preferably digitally, and audio play and/or video display thereof in thevehicle, most preferably at the interior rearview mirror, highway hazardwarning systems and the like.

The information display at the interior rearview mirror assembly (suchas at the mirror housing or viewable in the mirror reflector) may beformed using electronic ink technology and can be reconfigurable.Examples of electronic ink technology include small plastic capsules ormicrocapsules, typically 1/10 of a millimeter across or thereabouts,that are filled with a dark ink and that have in that ink whiteparticles which carry a charge such as a positive charge. Electrodesplace an electric field across the capsules and the electric field canattract or repel the charged particles in the capsules. If the whiteparticle is attracted to the top of a capsule so that it is closest to aviewer, the display element/pixel appears white to the viewer. If thewhite particle is attracted to the bottom of the capsule (away from theviewer), the display element/pixel appears dark as the viewer now seesthe dark ink in the capsule. Such displays are available from E Ink ofCambridge, MA. Such electronic ink displays have the advantage offorming text or graphics that, once formed, do not disappear when thedisplay powering voltage is disconnected (i.e. they have a long displaymemory). Alternately, GYRICON™ electronic ink technology developed byXEROX Corporation can be used. Here, microbeads are used that are black(or another dark color) on one side and white (or another light color)on the other side. The beads are dipolar in that one hemisphere carriesa stronger (and hence different) charge than the opposing otherhemisphere. The beads are small (about 1/10th of a millimeter diameter)and turn, or flip when placed in an electric field, with the respectivepoles of the dipolar beads being attracted to the corresponding polarityof the applied electric field. Thus, a white pixel or a black pixel canbe electrically written. Once the bead has turned or flipped, it remainsturned or flipped unless an electric potential of the opposite polarityis applied. Thus, the display has memory.

Other types of information displays can be used at the interior mirrorlocation. For example, a field-emission display such as thefield-emission display available from Candescent Technologies of SanJose, CA can be used. Field-emission displays include a plurality ofcharge emitting sources or guns that bombard a phosphor screen. Forexample, a myriad of small or microscopic cones (<1 micron tall, forexample and made of a metal such as molybdenum) are placed about amillimeter from phosphors on a screen. The cones emit electrons fromtheir tips or apexes to bombard the phosphors under an applied electricfield. This technology is adaptable to provide thin display screens(such as less than 10 mm or so). Alternately, field-emission displayscan be made using carbon nanotubes which are cylindrical versions ofbuckminsterfullerene, and available from Motorola. Such field-emissiondisplays are particularly useful for video displays as they have highbrightness and good contrast ratio, even under high ambient lightingconditions such as in a vehicle cabin by day. Such displays can belocated at the interior rearview mirror, preferably, or optionallyelsewhere in the vehicle cabin such as in the dash, in the windshieldheader at the top interior edge of the windshield, in a seat back, orthe like.

A further advantage of providing a housing 10 which accommodatesmultiple electrical accessories, preferably in individual compartments,is that incorporation of optional accessories into a specific vehicle isfacilitated. It also facilitates supply of the housing 10 and associatedmirror unit by a mirror manufacturer and supply of at least one of theelectrical accessories by a second, different accessory manufacturer,and with the automaker placing the at least one electrical accessoryinto the housing 10 at the vehicle assembly plant, preferably at thevehicle assembly line. Thus, for example, an interior mirror assemblycan be manufactured by a mirror supplier that includes housing 10,compartments 18 and 20 (or, optionally, more compartments), printedcircuit board 30 (such as a compass sensor printed circuit board) incompartment 20 but with compartment 18 empty, removable cover 40, amirror support arm articulating about housing 20, a mirror housing orcase supported on said support arm, a reflector element in said mirrorhousing (preferably an electrochromic mirror element which includes aninformation display such as of compass direction and/or temperaturedisplaying through said mirror element as is known in the mirror arts).A rain sensor module can be made by a separate manufacturer. The rainsensor module and the interior mirror assembly can be shipped to avehicle assembly plant (or local to it). Then, when a particular vehiclerequires a rains sensor module, the vehicle manufacturer can place therain sensor module into compartment 18, connect the rain sensor moduleto the wire harness provided to mirror assembly (preferably, the rainsensor module docks into compartment 18 in a manner that connects itelectrically to the vehicle or alternatively, the rain sensor moduleincludes a plug or socket that connects to a corresponding socket orplug already provided in housing 10 (or elsewhere on the interior mirrorassembly). This allows “plug & play” accommodation of multipleaccessories into the interior rearview mirror assembly. Also, theinterior rearview mirror assembly may be shipped to the assembly plantwith both compartments 18 and 20 empty, thus allowing, for example, theautomaker to solely place a rain sensor module into compartment 18 butadd no further accessory into compartment 20.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein whichmay be modified or varied without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interiorrearview mirror system comprising: an attachment element adhesivelyattached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicleequipped with said interior rearview mirror system; a single-ballinterior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element;wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a housing andan interior rearview mirror head pivotable about said housing by asingle ball and socket pivot joint, said single ball and socket pivotjoint comprising a ball pivot element and a socket pivot element;wherein said housing includes a mount for attaching said interiorrearview mirror assembly at said attachment element; wherein saidhousing includes one of said ball pivot element and said socket pivotelement of said single ball and socket pivot joint and wherein saidinterior rearview mirror head includes the other of said ball pivotelement and said socket pivot element of said single ball and socketpivot joint; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes anelectrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interiorrearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, saidinterior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equippedvehicle about said single ball and socket pivot joint to adjust arearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element;wherein said housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, withsaid interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachmentelement, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehiclewindshield; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises acontrol; wherein said control at least one of (a) receives an input viaa bus communication and (b) delivers an output via a bus communication;and wherein said control at least partially controls at least one of (a)a braking system of the equipped vehicle and (b) a traction controlsystem of the equipped vehicle.
 2. The interior rearview mirror systemof claim 1, wherein said control provides, at least in part, adjustmentof a braking characteristic of a braking system of the equipped vehicle.3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said controlprovides, at least in part, adjustment of a traction characteristic of atraction control system of the equipped vehicle.
 4. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises one of(i) a polymeric housing and (ii) a metallic housing.
 5. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, comprising a cover configured forattachment at said interior rearview mirror assembly.
 6. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 5, wherein said cover comprises apolymeric cover.
 7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 5,wherein said cover is configured for detachable attachment at saidinterior rearview mirror assembly.
 8. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 5, wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assemblyattached at said attachment element, said cover, when attached at saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, substantially conceals the presenceof said forwardly-viewing camera from view by the driver when normallyoperating the equipped vehicle.
 9. The interior rearview mirror systemof claim 5, wherein said cover provides protection against ingress of acontaminant.
 10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 5, whereinsaid cover provides a conduit for electrical leads associated with atleast one of (i) circuitry disposed in said housing and (ii) circuitrydisposed in said interior rearview mirror head.
 11. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 5, wherein said housing comprises ametallic housing, and wherein said cover attaches at said metallichousing.
 12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, whereinsaid metallic housing comprises a die cast metallic housing.
 13. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein, with said interiorrearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, saidcover, when attached at said interior rearview mirror assembly, at leastpartially hides said forwardly-viewing camera from view by the driverwhen normally operating the equipped vehicle.
 14. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 5, wherein, with said interior rearview mirrorassembly attached at said attachment element, said cover is detachableto facilitate service.
 15. The interior rearview mirror system of claim5, wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached at saidattachment element, a cluster of individual sensors resides on or nearthe in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, and wherein said clusterincludes said forwardly-viewing camera.
 16. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 15, wherein said cover, when attached at said interiorrearview mirror assembly, at least partially hides said cluster ofindividual sensors from view by the driver when normally operating theequipped vehicle.
 17. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said housing includes said ball pivot element of said singleball and socket pivot joint and wherein said interior rearview mirrorhead includes said socket pivot element of said single ball and socketpivot joint.
 18. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, whereinsaid single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, andwherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway ofsaid single ball and socket pivot joint.
 19. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 18, wherein at least one electrical lead thatpasses through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivotjoint connects to said forwardly-viewing camera.
 20. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 18, wherein at least one electrical leadthat passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivotjoint connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirrorhead.
 21. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein saidcircuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head is associatedwith said electrochromic rearview mirror element.
 22. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said circuitry disposed insaid interior rearview mirror head is associated with a display in saidinterior rearview mirror head that displays through said electrochromicrearview mirror element.
 23. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 1, wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attachedat said attachment element, adjustment of said interior rearview mirrorhead to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromicrearview mirror element does not affect the orientation of saidforwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing.
 24. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 23, wherein said housing is fixedlyattached at said attachment element.
 25. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 24, wherein said housing is detachably attached at saidattachment element.
 26. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 24,wherein said attachment of said housing comprises a breakawayattachment.
 27. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, whereinsaid housing houses at least one of (a) a headlamp sensor, (b) a rainsensor, (c) another camera, (d) a compass sensor, and (e) a garage dooropener.
 28. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein saidforwardly-viewing camera views through a light transmitting apertureestablished in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehicle windshield.29. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said mountof said housing is configured to twist onto said attachment element toattach said interior rearview mirror assembly at said attachmentelement.
 30. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, whereinsaid mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachmentelement to attach said interior rearview mirror assembly at saidattachment element.
 31. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button. 32.The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said attachmentelement comprises a metallic mirror mounting button.
 33. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said attachment elementcomprises a metallic mirror mounting button formed by at least one ofcasting and sintering.
 34. The interior rearview mirror system of claim1, wherein said attachment element comprises a polymeric mirror mountingbutton.
 35. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein saidbus communication comprises a CAN bus communication.
 36. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said housing includes aninternal wall that separates a cavity of said housing into first andsecond compartments, and wherein said forwardly-viewing camera isaccommodated by said first compartment.
 37. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 1, wherein said forwardly-viewing camera is located onsaid housing.
 38. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 37,wherein said housing, with said interior rearview mirror head pivotablethereabout and with said forwardly-viewing camera located on saidhousing, is manufactured at a first manufacturer.
 39. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 38, wherein said housing, with saidinterior rearview mirror head pivotable thereabout and with saidforwardly-viewing camera located on said housing, is shipped to avehicle assembly plant by said first manufacturer.
 40. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 39, wherein an operator at said vehicleassembly plant attaches said mount of said housing at said attachmentelement.
 41. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 40, wherein anaccessory is disposed at said housing before said mount is attached atsaid attachment element.
 42. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 41, wherein said accessory comprises a rain sensor module.
 43. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 41, wherein a cover is providedby said first manufacturer, and wherein an operator at said vehicleassembly plant attaches said cover at said interior rearview mirrorassembly.
 44. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, saidinterior rearview mirror system comprising: an attachment elementadhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of avehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; asingle-ball interior rearview mirror assembly attached at saidattachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a housing and an interior rearview mirror head pivotable aboutsaid housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint, said single balland socket pivot joint comprising a ball pivot element and a socketpivot element; wherein said housing includes a mount for attaching saidinterior rearview mirror assembly at said attachment element; whereinsaid housing includes one of said ball pivot element and said socketpivot element of said single ball and socket pivot joint and whereinsaid interior rearview mirror head includes the other of said ball pivotelement and said socket pivot element of said single ball and socketpivot joint; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes anelectrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interiorrearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, saidinterior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equippedvehicle about said single ball and socket pivot joint to adjust arearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element;wherein said housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera, and wherein,with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachmentelement, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehiclewindshield, and wherein said forwardly-viewing camera is located on saidhousing; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attachedat said attachment element, adjustment of said interior rearview mirrorhead to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromicrearview mirror element does not affect the orientation of saidforwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing; wherein said interiorrearview mirror assembly comprises a control; wherein said control atleast one of (a) receives an input via a bus communication and (b)delivers an output via a bus communication; wherein said housing, withsaid interior rearview mirror head pivotable thereabout and with saidforwardly-viewing camera located on said housing, is manufactured at afirst manufacturer; and wherein said housing, with said interiorrearview mirror head pivotable thereabout and with saidforwardly-viewing camera located on said housing, is shipped to avehicle assembly plant by said first manufacturer.
 45. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 44, wherein an operator at said vehicleassembly plant attaches said mount of said housing at said attachmentelement.
 46. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 45, comprisinga cover configured for attachment at said interior rearview mirrorassembly, wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attachedat said attachment element, said cover, when attached at said interiorrearview mirror assembly, substantially conceals the presence of saidforwardly-viewing camera from view by the driver when normally operatingthe equipped vehicle.
 47. The interior rearview mirror system of claim46, wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached atsaid attachment element, a cluster of individual sensors resides on ornear the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, and wherein saidcluster includes said forwardly-viewing camera, and wherein said cover,when attached at said interior rearview mirror assembly, substantiallyconceals the presence of said cluster of individual sensors from view bythe driver when normally operating the equipped vehicle.
 48. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 45, wherein an accessory isdisposed at said housing before said mount is attached at saidattachment element.
 49. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 48,wherein said accessory comprises a rain sensor module.
 50. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 44, wherein a cover is provided by saidfirst manufacturer, and wherein an operator at said vehicle assemblyplant attaches said cover at said interior rearview mirror assembly. 51.The interior rearview mirror system of claim 50, wherein an operator atsaid vehicle assembly plant attaches said cover at said housing of saidinterior rearview mirror assembly.
 52. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 44, wherein said housing comprises a metallic housing.53. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44, comprising a coverconfigured for attachment at said interior rearview mirror assembly, andwherein said cover comprises a polymeric cover.
 54. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 53, wherein said cover is configured fordetachable attachment at said interior rearview mirror assembly.
 55. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 53, wherein, with said interiorrearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, saidcover, when attached at said interior rearview mirror assembly,substantially conceals the presence of said forwardly-viewing camerafrom view by the driver when normally operating the equipped vehicle.56. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 55, wherein saidhousing comprises a die cast metallic housing.
 57. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 55, wherein, with said interior rearview mirrorassembly attached at said attachment element, a cluster of individualsensors resides on or near the in-cabin surface of the vehiclewindshield, and wherein said cluster includes said forwardly-viewingcamera, and wherein said cover, when attached at said interior rearviewmirror assembly, at least partially hides said cluster of individualsensors from view by the driver when normally operating the equippedvehicle.
 58. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44, whereinsaid housing includes said ball pivot element of said single ball andsocket pivot joint and wherein said interior rearview mirror headincludes said socket pivot element of said single ball and socket pivotjoint, and wherein said single ball and socket pivot joint includes apassageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through saidpassageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint, and wherein atleast one electrical lead that passes through said passageway of saidsingle ball and socket pivot joint connects to said forwardly-viewingcamera.
 59. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 58, wherein atleast one electrical lead that passes through said passageway of saidsingle ball and socket pivot joint connects to circuitry disposed insaid interior rearview mirror head, and wherein said circuitry disposedin said interior rearview mirror head is associated with saidelectrochromic rearview mirror element.
 60. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 59, wherein said circuitry disposed in said interiorrearview mirror head is associated with a display in said interiorrearview mirror head that displays through said electrochromic rearviewmirror element.
 61. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44,wherein said housing houses at least one of (a) a headlamp sensor, (b) arain sensor, (c) another camera, (d) a compass sensor, and (e) a garagedoor opener.
 62. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44,wherein said forwardly-viewing camera views through a light transmittingaperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehiclewindshield.
 63. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 62, whereinsaid mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachmentelement to attach said interior rearview mirror assembly at saidattachment element.
 64. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44,wherein said mount of said housing is configured to twist onto saidattachment element to attach said interior rearview mirror assembly atsaid attachment element, and wherein said attachment element comprises ametallic mirror mounting button.
 65. An interior rearview mirror systemfor a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising: anattachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of avehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearviewmirror system; a single-ball interior rearview mirror assembly attachedat said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirrorassembly comprises a housing and an interior rearview mirror headpivotable about said housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint,said single ball and socket pivot joint comprising a ball pivot elementand a socket pivot element; wherein said housing includes a mount forattaching said interior rearview mirror assembly at said attachmentelement; wherein said housing includes one of said ball pivot elementand said socket pivot element of said single ball and socket pivot jointand wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes the other ofsaid ball pivot element and said socket pivot element of said singleball and socket pivot joint; wherein said interior rearview mirror headincludes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with saidinterior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element,said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of theequipped vehicle about said single ball and socket pivot joint to adjusta rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element;wherein said housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, withsaid interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachmentelement, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehiclewindshield, and wherein said forwardly-viewing camera is located on saidhousing; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises acontrol; a cover configured for attachment at said interior rearviewmirror assembly, wherein said cover comprises a polymeric cover, andwherein said cover is configured for detachable attachment at saidinterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, with said interior rearviewmirror assembly attached at said attachment element, said cover, whenattached at said interior rearview mirror assembly, substantiallyconceals the presence of said forwardly-viewing camera from view by thedriver when normally operating the equipped vehicle; and wherein, withsaid interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachmentelement, adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust therearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror elementdoes not affect the orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housedby said housing.
 66. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 65,wherein said cover provides a conduit for electrical leads associatedwith at least one of (i) circuitry disposed in said housing and (ii)circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head.
 67. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 65, wherein said cover attachesat said housing, and wherein said housing comprises at least one of (i)a metallic housing and (ii) a die cast metallic housing.
 68. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 65, wherein, with said interiorrearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, a clusterof individual sensors resides on or near the in-cabin surface of thevehicle windshield, and wherein said cluster includes saidforwardly-viewing camera, and wherein said cover, when attached at saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, at least partially hides said clusterof individual sensors from view by the driver when normally operatingthe equipped vehicle.
 69. The interior rearview mirror system of claim65, wherein said housing includes said ball pivot element of said singleball and socket pivot joint and wherein said interior rearview mirrorhead includes said socket pivot element of said single ball and socketpivot joint, and wherein said single ball and socket pivot jointincludes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passesthrough said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint, andwherein at least one electrical lead that passes through said passagewayof said single ball and socket pivot joint connects to saidforwardly-viewing camera.
 70. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 69, wherein at least one electrical lead that passes through saidpassageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint connects tocircuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head, and wherein atleast one of (i) said circuitry disposed in said interior rearviewmirror head is associated with said electrochromic rearview mirrorelement, and (ii) said circuitry disposed in said interior rearviewmirror head is associated with a display in said interior rearviewmirror head that displays through said electrochromic rearview mirrorelement.
 71. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 65, whereinsaid housing houses at least one of (a) a headlamp sensor, (b) a rainsensor, (c) another camera, (d) a compass sensor, and (e) a garage dooropener.
 72. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 65, whereinsaid forwardly-viewing camera views through a light transmittingaperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehiclewindshield.
 73. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 65, whereinsaid mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachmentelement to attach said interior rearview mirror assembly at saidattachment element, and wherein said attachment element comprises ametallic mirror mounting button.
 74. The interior rearview mirror systemof claim 65, wherein said control at least one of (a) receives an inputvia a bus communication and (b) delivers an output via a buscommunication.